Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-29
HOUSE OF CON MONS.
business Before that Body-Debate on
various MatteTs-Speeches on the Irish
criminal Law Bill by Balfour and
Dillon.
LONDON. March %.

Pising 10 question, stated that the Cana.
o.aa s armament posed authority to purchase
aho olrect the operations of armed cruisers
-. ~ Nahaelan waters without the consent of
'ne imperial government. The act of 1867
sa'e oanada power to legislate on all matters
defence anu N"'"i
Mr.. W. II. Smith, the government leader
lntimated that the government had decided
10 ask the House to pass the second reading
OF the irish criminal law, and TO amend the
olll oy proposing the usual Easter HOLIDAYS
Cheers and counter cheers
Inc government said Mr.. Smith disayowed
any intention 10 menace the House, but thsy
wlshed the members to understand that the
measure was vital to the order in Ireland that
It was one on which the government staksd
their existence and was more important than
the HOLIDAYS
Balfour, chief secretary for Ireland, then
moved the first reading of the Irish criminal
law bill. In doing SO he referred 10 the terms
on rarneils praposed amendment to the bill
IN which the Irish leader claims that the
House should obtain further information
about the condition of Ireland.
The government took the view that the
amount of crime must be considered in con.
junction with its causes and character. The
number OF charges made by judges to grand
Jurles showing the number of persons actual
ly charged, bore no relation to the amount of
crime. Boycotting and intimidation, he
SAID, were rampant in that part of the coun-
try most disturbed. Those who gave this
testimony were not partisans. [Parnellite
cries of dissent
The paralysis of the courts of law was an
evil necessary to be specially checked 1t
arose from the difficulty of inducing intimi-
dated witnesses to speak out. In 755 cases
422 injured parties were so terrified that they
refused to appear. When the evidence was
obtained the juries declined even in the clear
est cases, TO convict Here he produced
long list of cases in which the juries had dis
regarded the evidence presented, and asked if
1t was to be wondered at when the national
press pointed out the jurymen giving the yer.
dict and held them up to the public probation
and secret vengeance. Those persons desir-
ing the separation of Ireland, were ready to
attain their object by the exercise of avowed
terrorism. The jury system has thus become
impracticable. Parnellite laughter. The
place which the law ought to fill was occu-
pied by the National League. The members
of the league relied upon secret societies, dy-
Mantle and the dagger. the object of which
was the bringing about of a state of anarchy
by means of assassination. 1t was an absurd
travesty of facts, he declared, to say that the
league had any resemblance to trades un-
ion. The initial policy of the league was a
combination for the plunder of individuals
with the destruction of the constitution. Bal
four read an extract from United Ireland dis
closing the extent of the system of tenor.
He said the official returns showed
that S36 persons were boycotted under orders
from the league. In many districts the ten
antry had become valueless because no sell.
ing of right was possible unless sanctioned
by the league. No tyrany, however cruel,
could compare with the anarchy resulting
from the existence OF the league tribunals.
Coming to the proposals of the bill, he said
that the government borrowed the provision
from the Scotch system, giving the magis-
trates power tie examine witnesses on oath
even when no persons are charged whh crime
To overcome the difficulty of getting verdicts
they proposed to abolish the jury system al
together. Cheers and counter cheers. For
certain classes of crime giving the magistrates
authority with power to impose maximum
penalty of six months imprisonment in cases
of criminal conspiracy, boycoting, riotng,
and offences under the Whteboy's act, assault
on officers of the law, forcible aud unlawful
pos session, and in cases of the incitement of
the foregoing offences. Cheers The gov
ernment did not propose to interfere with the
liberty of the press but they hoped BY giving
the magistrates the power of summary con-
viction for melting offences they would be
able to prevent thd press sharing in crimes.
The bill also gave the government power to
change the venue of trial for graver offences.
The governm mt felt the diff culty connect
ed with the abolition OF trial by jury in Ire
land and therefore proposed that the attor-
ney generals Of England and Ireland in cases
of grave crimes should certify when a fairer
trial could be had in England. Cheers
When under the same conditions as in case
OF change of venue in ireland the trial should
be held in England. Cries from the Parn-
elites. "What part of England?'l The
Irish counsel, he ADDED. were to be allowed 10
appear in English courts Parnellite laughter
and the State would provide necessary funds
| for the conveyance of both witnesses and
| lawyers. Purely political offences such As
treason, treason felony and sedtious libel
were excluded from the provisions of the bill.
| Crimes trisble in England were murder, at
tempt to murder, aggravated crimes of vic
lence and arson. In sll cases the bill ap
piled only to proclaimed districts The
viceroy would have further powers to pro
claim dangerous societies found to be dis
turbipg the pesce and order. The Govern
ment proposed that the permancy of the bill
should be limited to fixed time. Cheers J
Dillon followed Balfour. He said the bill
will never pass into law. Irish cheers If
he believed the people of England were capa-
BILE of sanctoning such measures he would
give up forever the hope of seeing the IRISH
and English shake hands. The Irish people
would be slaves indeed if they submitted to
it. Either be would leave the country where
no Irishman could live unless he lived like a
slave, or, if the people were willing, he would
be proud and happy to lead them in the battle
| Cheers. The measure could only result in
causing increased disorganizaion and driving
the people back to the horrors of former
years. [Cheers.l Earl Spencer be-
lieving his life to be IN danger, had the cour-
age to face the people of Ireland like man
But small credit was due to the present gov
ernment who didn't know the dangers they
were facing. CCries of oh oh F.! and cheers ]
A more miserable excuse on which to found
coercion had never been heard. Balfour had
succeeded in proving nothing but his own ig-
norance of the country which he sought TO
govern, and the sooner he quilted the office
the better for Ireland and for himself The
government were practically treating the
Irishmen like slaves.
The conference of the liberal unionists will
be held at the Devonshire House, Thursday,
TO discuss the coercion bill. An exchange OF
views in the lobbies, disclose the fact that
several nnonists disapprove of the measure
but the mass OF the party consider its p!ovis-
ions not too stringent
The Parnellites held an informal meeting
| and united in deuouucinR what thev termed